Can carrier



p 1 66 F. A. CHIDSEY, JR 3,273,782

CAN CARRIER Filed June 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \%?/67? 2401 iamg a CAM 5 (if.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,273,782 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 3,273,782 CAN CARRIER Francis A. Chidsey, lira, Devon, lla., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, lib, a corporation of Delaware Filed June it), 1965. Ser. No. 462,944 Claims. (til. 229-40) This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Carrier Carton Retaining Member, Serial No. 362,623, filed April 27, 1964.

This invention relates to a sleeve-type wraparound carrier carton for enclosing a plurality of cylindrical articles having chimed recessed ends, and more particularly, to an improved can retaining tab formed in one end wall of the carrier carton and folded inwardly therefrom for engaging the recessed end of the article to prevent movement of the article out of the open end of the carrier carton.

As is well known to those familiar with the art of packaging, a common way to package cylindrical articles, such as metal cans, is to wrap them in a tubular openended carrier carton with the cans being arranged in the carton in one or more rows extending lonigtudinally of the carton. In cartons of this type, it is necessary to provide means for preventing the cans from accidentally moving out of the open ends of the carton. One method of solving this problem is to cut retaining tabs from the top or bottom end wall panels of the carton and to fold the tabs inwardly into the recessed ends of the chimed cans to engage the inside edges thereof and thereby prevent the cans from moving out the ends of the carton.

With the introduction of the pop-top metal cans which have built-in opening devices having raised handle portions above the outer end surface of the can, an additional problem is presented, namely that of insuring relatively tight engagement between the can retaining tab and the end wall of the packaged article. In the above referred to co-pending patent application, a wedge-shaped web panel is interposed between the end wall panel of the carton and a portion of the tab structure itself to extend at substantially right angles to both to force the free edge of the tab away from the main wall of the carrier and against the recessed end of the can. This wedge-shaped web panel thus maintains tight engagement of the tab against the can for reliably holding the same.

However, the wedge-shaped panel has, in acting as the hinged connection of the tab, been observed to be subjected to rather large loads in maintaining the cans within the tube. This has caused some failures of the tabs by ripping of the tab hinged connection. Furthermore, there have been problems observed in the manufacture of the tab with the wedge-shaped panel due to the critical dimensions required, particularly since the equipment used for forming the carriers and for automatically tucking the tabs in place operates at high speeds. Thus, variations of board resilience caused by humidity changes, and dulling or shifting of the score rules can cause a change in the tab sufiicient to cause tie-ups or binding of the tab in the automatic equipment or failure in the field.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved spacer means in a can carrier of the type described for a retaining tab that urges the tab snugly against a related end wall of the can, the spacer means further being readily formable in a reliable and economical manner and being durable and easily folded in place because of its construction and orientation.

A more specific object of this invention is the provision of means for forming a tab and spacer means, as mentioned in the previous object, which includes using a solid wedge-shaped score rule, or of using a two or more point rule for making all hinge connections of the spacer means with the tab or end wall.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully appreciated after reviewing the specification to follow, including the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can carrier carton of the type for which this invention relates and in which a first embodiment of the subject invention is disclosed;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a blank suitably cut and scored to form the carrier disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the first embodiment of the subject improved tab construction;

FIG. 4 is a top plan View of the tab construction, shown folded in place in a carrier carton having a can located therein;

FIG. 5 is a view as seen generally from line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view as seen from line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views corresponding, respectively, to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 of a second embodiment of the subject invention; and

FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are views similarly corresponding, respectively, to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, of a third embodiment of the subject invention.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are illustrated to better advantage in others.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, it will be seen that in FIG. 1, there is illustrated an open end sleeve-type wraparound carrier carton, illustrated generally at C, which may be formed from the unitary blank, indicated at B (FIG. 2) of suitable sheet material such as foldable paperboard.

The carton holds a plurality of cylindrical objects such as chimed cans, generally indicated at K which are arranged in one or more rows extending longitudinally of the carton. In the carton illustrated in FIG. 1, the cans are arranged in two parallel rows disposed in side-by-side relation.

It will be noted from an examination of FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, that the cans illustrated herein are provided with recessed end portions and are the so-called pop-top type having built-in opening devices indicated generally at 0 formed integrally with the ends of the cans.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the carton includes a pair of parallel, transversely extending, vertically spaced top and bottom walls 10 and 12, respectively, which are interconnected by a pair of opposed parallel, transversely spaced, vertical side walls 14 to form a tubular structure open at the ends. Referring also to FIG. 2, it will be seen that while the top wall 10 is formed from a single panel, bottom wall 12 includes a pair of coplanar bottom wall panels 16 having their outer side edges hingedly attached to the adjacent lower edges of the related side walls 14 and having their inner edges attached to a central can retaining member 18 which extends longitudinally of the carton and projects into the carton between the adjacent rows of cans. This construction is disclosed more fully in United States Letters Patent #3, 010,- 573 and my above mentioned copending application. The retaining member 18 is formed from cooperating pairs of first and second strips 20 and 22, respectively. First strips 20 are hinged to the inner edges of the bottom panel 16 and extend into the carton at right angles to the bottom wall in back-to-back relation where they are secured to each other by adhesive means. The second strips 22 are hinged to the inner or upper edges of first strips 20 and extend downwardly and outwardly towards the bottom wall for engagement with the related edges of the can chimes to maintain the cans in firm engagement with the bottom wall of the carton.

It will be understood that the central retaining member previously described is not an essential feature of the in-- vention covered by this application, but can be replaced by other equivalent arrangements.

The one-piece top wall panel of the carton may be provided with a pair of hand grip holes or openings 24- to facilitate grasping and lifting of the package. Also, in order to facilitate opening of the package, one of the side walls 14 can be provided with a series of weakened lines of tear 26, and the top wall can be provided with a cut score punch-out section 28 which aifords access to the top of the side wall of the carton adjacent the weakened lines 26, so that the carton can be easily ripped open along the weakened lines of tear.

In order to prevent the cans from accidentally moving out of the open ends of the carton there are provided in the top and/or bottom walls of the carton, adjacent the ends of the cans, can retaining tabs 30 and 31 disposed over and under, respectively, the end can of each row. The can retaining tabs 31 in the bottom wall of the carton are of the same general type as those disclosed in United States letters Patent No. 2,980,249.

It will be understood, of course, that where cans having chimes at only one end are packaged, only that end of the carton need be provided with can retaining tabs.

As best seen in FIG. 3 each tab 30' is generally triangular or pie-shaped with its free edge side defined by continuous cut lines extending from a straight cut line 32 generally parallel to the adjacent edge of the carton top wall, and a second curved cut line 34- which extends inwardly from one end of cut line 32 about an angle slightly less than 90 to a hinged connection, and connecting hinge lines 36 and 38 that extends between the free ends of the cut lines.

A triangularly shaped spaced member or panel 40 is between each can retaining tab 30 on the top wall of the carton. The spacer member 49 has a relatively short outer edge defined by out line 42 extending inwardly from the inner end of out line 34, and a pair of side edges defined by hinge line 36 to the tab and by hinge line 44 to the top wall. The hinge lines 36 and 44 diverge generally from the inner end of hinge line 38, generally symmetrically of the last mentioned hinge line to the opposite ends of out line 4-2. Thus, spacer 40 is hingedly attached to tab 30 on hinge line 36 and is hingedly attached to carton wall 10 at hinge line 44, while the tab '30 is hingedly attached to carton Wall 10 on hinge line 38.

It will be understood that when the tab and spacer member are folded in the cooperating relationship with the can, the spacer member extends generally normal to both the carton top wall and to the inner end of the can 10 and operates to maintain the can tab in snug engagement with the end wall of the can.

In the subject invention, it is contemplated that the spacer member 40 is for-med by a debossing operation wherein a single one-piece die rule is used to form the spacer member 40 between the hinge lines 36 and 44 and to further form the hinge line 38. The advantage of forming the spacer member and hinge lines with the onepiece debossing die rule is that a simpler make-ready operation is required while further providing a more reliable die rule suitable for continued repeated operations such as commonly occur in the production of such car-ton blanks. Furthermore, the hinge line 38 between the free edge of the out line 32 and the embossed spacer 40 is formed by a score rule of wider than conventional thickness, such as a two or three point rule. It will be understood that in the terminology of scoring dies, a one point rule has a width of .014 inch, so that a four point score rule has a width of .056 inch.

Since the entire hinge connection of the tab is formed by an embossed score area, including that across the spacer area 40, the tab hinges more reliably to the top wall for easier, more dependable folding of the tab 180 back over onto the top panel but yet has a stronger hinged 4 connection and spacer area as compared to the prior art. This is particularly true Where, as here, the tab hinge is not on a straight hinge line.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10, a second embodiment of the subject invention .is shown. In this embodiment, a tab is formed having cut lines 132 and 134 separating the tab from the top Wall 110, and a spacer element is formed along the entire hinge connection between the tab and the top wall 112. Accordingly, the spacer is triangularly shaped having straight side edges converting to an apex at one end of the out line 132 and having large free edge separated by cut 142 from the top wall. The spacer 41 thus hinges the tab to the top wall of the carton. The entire area within the spacer is debossed by a single piece scoring rule to give rigidity to the spacer. Furthermore, since all hinge lines are linear, the tab can be folded very easily the required to be parallel to the top wall, although the separate hinge connections at the side edges of the spacer each are folded only 90.

FIGS. ll, 12, 13 and 14 disclose still a third embodiment of the subject invention which is quite similar to that disclosed in the previous FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10. The tab 230 is cut on lines 232 and 234 from top wall 212 and hinged on score 236 to spacer element 240. However, it will be noted that the spacer 240' is defined by separate score lines 236 and 24 i and cut 242. The score lines 236 and 244 can be made by score rules of one or more point rule width. The intermediate section of the spacer element formed between the hinge lines and cut thus is not debossed. However, spacer 240 is completely interposed between the supporting top wall 212 and the depending tab and thus permits full 180 folding of the tab although each hinge line must fold 90.

It should be noted that in each embodiment disclosed herein, the spacer element assumes a position that is generally normal to the top wall of the carrier carton and the tab itself. Furthermore, the remote or widest edge section of the spacer element abuts the inside chimed edge of the recessed end of the can for maintaining the can snugly within the carton and preventing the same from falling from the open end thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sleeve-type, wraparound, carrier carton for enclosing a plurality of cylindrical articles having chi-med, recessed ends, the combination comprising:

(a) opposed pairs of .top and bottom end walls and side walls hingedly attached to form a tubular structure open at the ends;

(b) a plurality of can retaining tabs cut from at least one of said end walls and folded inwardly therefrom into approximately parallel relation with said one end wall for engagement with the recessed ends of adjacent articles to prevent movement of the articles out of the open ends of the tubular structure;

(c) each of said tabs having a periphery defined by a single, first hinge line and a continuous cut line extending from one end of the hinge line around the free edge of the tab to the opposite end of the hinge line;

(d) each of said tabs being connected to said one end wall by a generally triangular connecting panel hinged on one side edge to said tab along the entire length of said first hinge line and hinged on its opposite side edge to said one end wall along a second hinge line diverging from and having a length approximately equal to said first hinge line;

(e) said connecting panel being disposed .to extend substantially normal to and between said one wall and said tab to space the latter inwardly from the former and thereby urge the latter into firm engagement with the recessed end of an adjacent cylindrical article;

(f) said connecting panel presenting a free end edge extending vertically between the hinge lines of said connecting panel which free end edge is disposed for engagement with the inside surface of the chime of said article.

2. In a sleeve-type, wraparound, carrier carton for enclosing a plurality of cylindrical articles having chimed, recessed ends, the combinations comprising:

(a) opposed pairs of top and bottom end walls and side walls hingedly attached to form a tubular structure open at the ends;

(-b) a plurality of can retaining tabs cut from at least one of said end Walls and folded inwardly therefrom into approximately parallel relation with said one end wall for engagement with the recessed ends of adjacent articles to prevent movement of the articles out of the open ends of the tubular structure;

(c) each of said tabs having a periphery defined by a first hinge construction and a continuous cut line extending from one end of the hinge construction around the free edge of the tab to the opposite end of the hinge construction;

((1) each of said tabs being connected to said one end Wall by a connecting panel hinged on one edge to said tab along the first hinge construction and hinged on its opposite edge to said one end wall along a second hinge construction;

(e) said connecting panel being disposed to extend substantially normal to and between said one wall and said tab to space the latter inwardly from the former and thereby urge the latter into firm engagement with the recessed end of said adjacent article;

(f) said connecting panel being debossed uniformly over its entire area between the previously mentioned first and second hinge constructions.

3. A carrier carton according to claim 2, wherein said connecting panel extends along the entire lengths of the first and second hinge constructions and provides the only connection between the tab and the one end wall.

4. A carrier carton according to claim 2, wherein said connecting panel extends along only .part of the length of the first hinge construction and the remainder of the first hin-ge construction is between the tab and the one wall.

5. A carrier carton according to claim 1, wherein the entire area of the connecting panel is debossed, and wherein the connecting panel and the first and second hinge construction are all formed by a single, one piece scoring die.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,814,385 11/1957 Stone. 2,931,492 4/1960 Osterberg 206- 3,134,532 5/1964 Bixby 206--65 X 3,156,404 11/1964 Wood 206-65 X GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SLEEVE-TYPE, WRAPAROUND, CARRIER CARTON FOR ENCLOSING A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES HAVING CHIMED, RECESSED ENDS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: (A) OPPOSED PAIRS OF TOP AND BOTTOM END WALLS AND SIDE WALLS HINGEDLY ATTACHED TO FORM A TUBULAR STRUCTURE OPEN AT THE ENDS; (B) A PLURALITY OF CAN RETAINING TABS CUT FROM AT LEAST ONE OF SAID END WALLS AND FOLDED INWARDLY THEREFROM INTO APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL RELATION WITH SAID ONE END WALL FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RECESSED ENDS OF ADJACENT ARTICLES TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE ARTICLES OUT OF THE OPEN ENDS OF THE TUBULAR STRUCTURE; (C) EACH OF SAID TABS HAVING A PERIPHERY DEFINED BY A SINGLE, FIRST HINGE LINE AND A CONTINUOUS CUT LINE EXTENDING FROM ONE END OF THE HINGE LINE AROUND THE FREE EDGE OF THE TAB TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE HINGE LINE; (D) EACH OF SAID TABS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID ONE END WALL BY A GENERALLY TRIANGULAR CONNECTING PANEL HINGED ON ONE SIDE EDGE TO SAID TAB ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF SAID FIRST HINGE LINE AND HINGED ON ITS OPPOSITE SIDE EDGE TO SAID ONE END WALL ALONG A SECOND HINGE LINE DIVERGING FROM AND HAVING A LENGTH APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO SAID FIRST HINGE LINE; (E) SAID CONNECTING PANEL BEING DISPOSED TO EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO AND BETWEEN SAID ONE WALL AND SAID TAB TO SPACE THE LATTER INWARDLY FROM THE FORMER AND THEREBY RUGE THE LATTER INTO FIRM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RECESSED END OF AN ADJACENT CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE; (F) SAID CONNECTING PANEL PRESENTING A FREE END EDGE EXTENDING VERTICALLY BETWEEN THE HINGE LINES OF SAID CONNECTING PANEL WHICH FREE END EDGE IS DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE CHIME OF SAID ARTICLE. 